Regional indicators for the allocation of the Structural Funds Objective 1 regions

04/11/2002 14:00

The European Regional Structural funds are part of the financial support provided by the European Union for regions in the EU with a weak economy. The article: "Regional indicators for the allocation of the Structural Funds Objective 1 regions" refers to regions with which lag far behind in terms of economic development, the so-called Objective 1 regions. In the period 2000 to 2006 the EU is making available approximately 136 billion euro to support these regions. At the request of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Statistics Netherlands has set out an explanation of the statistical indicators used to determine Objective 1 regions. At present, gross domestic product per capita in purchasing power parities is used for this purpose. In view of the aims of the EU the article provides a number of alternatives for this indicator. These alternatives give a better indication of underdeveloped regions.